East Coast Bagel serves Irvine for 25 years

April 11, 2013

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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East Coast Bagel has been serving bagels for over 25 years at the Heritage Plaza in Irvine. It's not unusual to see the line out the door for customers eager to select one of the 29 varieties of bagels. JACQUELINE CARR, FOR THE REGISTER

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East Coast Bagel has indoor and outdoor seating. JACQUELINE CARR, FOR THE REGISTER

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East Coast Bagel manager Juan Diaz serves up a Turkey Avocado Melt sandwich at East Coast Bagel in Irvine. JACQUELINE CARR, FOR THE REGISTER

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Cary Omukai, left, and her husband Masato Omukai enjoy a morning at East Coast Bagel with their niece Ayano Nakajima. JACQUELINE CARR, FOR THE REGISTER

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Scored garlic is the top selling bagel at East Coast Bagel in Irvine. JACQUELINE CARR, FOR THE REGISTER

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Juan Diaz has been the manager of East Coast Bagel in Irvine for 12 years. JACQUELINE CARR, FOR THE REGISTER

East Coast Bagel has been serving bagels for over 25 years at the Heritage Plaza in Irvine. It's not unusual to see the line out the door for customers eager to select one of the 29 varieties of bagels.JACQUELINE CARR, FOR THE REGISTER

The Irvine location, on Culver Drive, near Walnut Avenue, is one of seven East Coast Bagel locations.

"We have a lot of regular customers," said Diaz. "Some just park outside and we know what they want and get it ready."

Every two weeks the Irvine High School Student Forum buys 50 bagels from East Coast Bagel.

"The bagels serve as a sort of incentive to go to the 7:15 a.m. meetings," said Sierra Schiano, 17, a member of the Irvine High School group. "Because not many people want to get up that early."

Schiano knew of the bagel joint before joining Student Forum, saying: "My dad used to go out and get East Coast bagels for my sister and me on the weekends while we were still asleep. That place is part of my very food-centered childhood."

Cary Omukai is a self-described bagel connoisseur. She came across East Coast Bagel when she moved to Irvine from San Diego, and raves about the cheesy jalapeno bagel.

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